Valve structure.



H. E. HILL. VALVE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. I915.

1,172,527. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

W KMMR,

1' COLUMBIA PMNOORAPH cm. WASHINGTON, B. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT E. HILL, OF SOUTH ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 MORRIS & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

VALVE STRUCTURE.

Application filed January 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at South St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in valve structures, for mixing cold water and steam and supplying the resulting hot water to a desired point.

An important object of the invention is to providea valve structure of the above mentioned character, so constructed that the steam cannot be introduced into the mixing chamber thereof prior to the introduction of the cold water, thus preventing accidents, such as the operator being scalded by the steam.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the figure is a central longitudinal sectional view through the valve structure embodying my invention.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of'my invention, the numeral 1 designates the shell or body of the valve structure providing a large mixing chamber 2. This shell is preferably circular in crosssection and is provided at its upper end with an inwardly projecting or off set annular portion 3, forming a tapered guide shoulder 4, increasing in diameter downwardly, as shown. A cap 5 preferably has screwthreaded engagement with the annular portion, as shown at 6. The cap 5 carries a nipple 7 having screw-threaded engagement with a cold water supply pipe 8, provided with a cut off valve 9, of any well known or preferred type. At its lower end the shell 1 is provided with a tubular extension 10, having an annular inwardly extending or off set portion 11, providing a tapered guide Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Feb. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 156.

shoulder 12, increasing in diameter downwardly, as shown. The tubular portion 10 is connected with a steam supply pipe 13, by means of a coupling 14: or the like. The shell 1 is provided upon its side with a nipple 15, for connecting a hot water outlet pipe 16 with the same, having free communication with the chamber 2.

The numeral 17 designates a cold water piston-valve snugly fitting within the annular portion 3, and adapted upon its downward movement to clear the inclined shoulder 4, thus allowing of the passage of the cold water'into the chamber 2. It is thus apparent that the upper portion of the shell 1 has a contracted bore which discharges into the enlarged bore or the chamber 2. The piston-valve 17 is preferably provided with suitable packing 18, and is provided with a water supply aperture 19, of suitable size. Rigidly connected with the central portion of the piston-valve 17 is a rod 20, having a steam piston-valve 21, rigidly attached to the lower end thereof. This piston-valve snugly engages with the annularportion 11 and is preferably provided with suitable packing 22. The piston-valve 21 is adapted to move downwardly to clear the shoulder 12, whereby steam may enter the chamber 2. It is thus apparent that the tubular portion 10 has anupper contracted bore leading into a lower enlarged bore. The upward movement of the piston-valves 17 and '21 is positively limited by the engagement of the piston-valve 21 with a shoulder 23.

- The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Steam under suitable pressure is continuously supplied to the intake end of the tubular portion 10, and upon the opening of the piston-valve 21 will feed into the mixing chamber 2. The valve structure 9 is normally closed and upon opening the same the cold water will be supplied into the upper end of the shell 1, above the cold water piston-valve 17. This water is of course supplied under suitable pressure and the area of the piston-valve 17 being much greater than that of the piston-valve 21, the pressure of the steam is overcome and the two piston-valves simultaneously move downwardly, for simultaneously supplying cold water and steam into the mixing chamber. It is thus apparent that under no circumstances can the steam enter the mixing.

chamber prior to the entrance of the cold water. There is no valve to be operated to supply the steam, whereby the operator cannot meet with an accident due to the mistake of turning on the steam supply valve prior to the supply of the cold water. The piston-valves l? and 21 are adapted to move downwardly within the shell 1 to permit of the free passage of the steam and water, and may be disposed beneath the shoulders l and 12 respectively, for a substantial distance. In my construction, no guide means is provided for the piston-valves or rod 20 other than the tapered shoulders a and 12, such shoulders serving to adequately guide the piston-valves upon their return or closing movement. It is thus apparent that I have provided an apparatus which besides from. being reliable and fool proof in operation, is exceedingly simple in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture.

it is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape,

to and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim l. A valve structure of the character described, comprising a casing provided with reduced tubular portions for connection with sources of water and steam, said tubular portions communicating with the interior of the casing and having inclined walls, piston valves mounted to move within the reduced tubular portions across the inclined walls to open positions whereby the reduced tubular portions are placed in direct communication through the. medium of the interior of the casing and the water and steam are thoroughly mixed therein, the inclined portions serving as guides for the piston valves upon closing movement thereof, means connecting the piston valves so that they substantially simultaneously open, and an out- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

let device leading into the casing between the piston valves.

2. A valve structure of the character described comprising a shell having a cold water inlet near one end and provided with a contracted bore forming a tapered shoulder, a cold water piston mounted to reciprocate within the tapered bore and to move downwardly past the tapered shoulder and to be guided thereby upon its return movement, a tubular steam inlet having a contracted. bore providing a tapered shoulder and having a substantially smaller diameter than the first named contracted bore, a steam piston valve mounted to reciprocate within the second named contracted. bore to clear the tapered shoulder thereof upon opening and to be guided thereby upon its return movement, a piston rod rigidly connecting the piston-valves whereby the steam piston valve cannot open before the opening of the water piston-valve, and hot water outlet means leading into the shell between the piston-valves.

3. A. valve structure of the character described, comprising a casing provided with tubular inlets for connection with sources of water and steam communicating with the interior of the casing and having beveled walls, valves mounted to move within the tubular inlets and adapted to travel in proximity to the beveled walls to assume open positions whereby the tubular inlets are placed in direct communication through the medium of the interior of the casing and the water and steam thoroughly mixed within the interior of the casing, said valves being guided in their return movement into the tubular inlets by the beveled walls, an element connecting the valves so that they move together, and an outlet device leading into the casing between the tubular inlets.

Washington, D. C. 

